YWCA of Duluth Her-story: 120 Years of Leadership
Founded
1893
The YWCA in Duluth was founded.
Main Building Built
1908
Every third girl in the state of Minnesota between the ages of 16-20 was a wage earner. The YWCA was concerned for the safety of these young girls as they left home and entered the job market. Classes in typing, bookkeeping, and domestic service were offered and a building that would provide safe housing was designed and built.
1900
Classes and Safe Housing Offered
The main building at 202 W 2nd St. was built in 1908 at a cost of $130,000. It included a residence, a lunchroom, a pool and fitness area and meeting rooms.
Construction was completed and dedicated on June 6th, 1909.
1909
Construction Completed
Lunchroom Opens
1909
The lunchroom opened in 1909 and served 370 meals a day.
Over 1800 immigrant girls became lost between New York and the Midwest in 1913. To address that, a Traveler’s Aid was sponsored by the YWCA and an average of 700 trains a month were met at the Duluth Depot. Housing, English classes, and information about employment were offered to immigrant girls.
1913
YWCA and Immigration
Project S.O.A.R
1918
Project S.O.A.R. for displaced homemakers was established at the YWCA and provided employment, health, and recreational programming.
Girl Reserves Program
In 1918 the Girl Reserves were established for high school girls to provide them with instruction on home, community, interracial and international relations.
Women Entering The Railway Workforce
In 1918 the Duluth Street Railway Company began to hire female streetcar conductors with the help and leadership of the YWCA.
The International Institute was established to meet the needs of recently arrived immigrants. Local female workers who spoke foreign languages visited the immigrant families, taught them English and employment skills, and worked to provide a warm welcome to Duluth.
1921
International Institute Established
Blue Triangle Club Formed
The businesswomen of Duluth organized the Blue Triangle Club, which was a part of the Federation of Business and Professional Clubs. The Blue Triangle Club also discussed disarmament and studied foreign policy and national defense in the 1930s along with continuing to be a very active Traveler’s Aid.
YWCA Classes
1930
Clinics and classes held at the YWCA included counseling on marriage, home problems, and child rearing.
Women who had worked during the war as a necessity were reluctant to give up their positions when the war closed. In 1946 a meeting was held between the American Federation of Labor and the Duluth Business and Industrial Women’s Club to advocate a better wage and social security for working women.
1946
Women in the Workforce
International Folk Festival Started
1947
In 1947 the International Folk Festival was started to celebrate the rich ethnic communities in Duluth.
Y-Wives, a social service club for young married women was organized in 1954. Clubs for working girls, teens, and golden age groups were formed out of the Y-Wives club.
1954
Y-Wives And Clubs
24/Hour Aid
1955
The YWCA began providing 24 hour aid and refuge to stranded women and children due to death or divorce.
YWCA programs expanded to include widowed, separated, and divorced parents in the Solo Parent Club.
1962
Solo Parent Club Program
The Arrowhead Council, headed by the Director of the YWCA, was established to address wage and training issues for the equality of working women.
Arrowhead Council Formed
Human Rights Commission
1970
The YWCA’s commitment to eliminate racism drew them into the process of establishing a Human Rights Commission.
First Mother’s Day Walk/Run
1984
Big Sister’s Program
1974
The Big Sister’s Program was established in 1974 and was the first “mentoring” program. The YWCA was a leader in the efforts for equality for women and people of color.
Breast Cancer awareness began to grow and the Mother’s Day Walk/Run had its first event in 1984.
Interest in cultural diversity took shape with numerous evenings to “explore a foreign country”. This was a forerunner to the YWCA International Folk Festival.
Exploring New Cultures
1992
2000
2007
2009
2011
2013
Additions to Childcare
After-School Programs Start
Police Accountability
Girls Inc. Program
25th Anniversary of The Mother’s Day Walk/Run
Un-Fair Campaign Launches
10th Anniversary of Spirit Valley and Women of Distinction
YWCA Joins The Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative (JDAI)
2010
The YWCA joins the Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative (JDAI) to change the underlying causes of the dis-proportionality of juveniles of color in secure detention (high rate of American Indian and African American girls).
The Effect of WWII And Outreach Efforts
Working Parent’s Resource Center
1941
1990
Breast Cancer Awareness
Spirit Valley Facility Opens
Moved to The Building For Women
117 Years
Habitat Program
1995
2003
2008
2012
WWII greatly influenced the programs at the YWCA. USO parties were held at the YWCA and there was significant outreach efforts made to families of service men and women.
A Working Parent’s Resource Center, Summer Day Camp and a child care drop-in center for children aged 6-12 were established.
Concerns over the prospect of war led the YWCA to look at new ways to reduce unemployment among women and girls; helping women find jobs as far away as Chicago.
1931
War And Unemployment
The Little People’s Center was established at the YWCA in 1973. This was the precursor to the current-day child care centers. The YWCA’s programs stressed self-development and growth as increasing concern focused on identity and individuality.
1973
Little People’s Child Care Center Opens
The YWCA child care program added toddlers.
Beginning in 1995, Encore Plus established a national partnership between the YWCA, Avon Foundation, the American Cancer Society, and the St. Louis County Health Department to help increase breast cancer awareness and early screening. The program later expanded to include health and wellness programming.
The YWCA continued its support of working women through child care, seminars on workplace issues and workplace advocacy. After School programming for girls and youth was started as a means to support youth, provide positive role models and support working parents. The YWCA provides housing, child care, health and wellness programs, school enrichment programs and mentoring for girls and youth and activities that address racial justice and gender equality.
The YWCA opened the Spirit Valley facility which houses an early childhood education center and apartments for young mothers and their child, who were homeless or about to be homeless.
The YWCA joins the Task Force for Improved Police Community Accountability.
The YWCA sells the historic building to the American Indian Community Housing Organization for a residence for American Indian families and a community center. The YWCA then moves its Administrative Offices to the Building For Women, which it now co-owns with the Women’s Health Center and the Program To Aid Victims of Sexual Assault.
The YWCA partners with the YWCA of Minneapolis to become an affiliate of Girls Inc. and begins to use three of their curricula in the GirlPower! and Young Mother’s programs.
The YWCA celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Mother’s Day Walk Run.
The YWCA’s completes a history exhibit for the Administrative Office that showcases 117 years of programming.
The YWCA begins to develop the Un-Fair Campaign and recruits partners for the Campaign. The partner Campaign is launched in the fall of 2011 and the public Campaign is launched in January of 2012.
The YWCA collaborates with the Duluth School District to continue the Habitat program so that teen parents in high school can stay in school.
The YWCA Spirit Valley facility celebrates its ten-year anniversary and is re-dedicated. Additionally, the YWCA’s annual Women of Distinction celebration of women’s leadership, celebrates the ten year anniversary as well.
